Who has a 103'' that DOESN'T have problems!?
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Don't have the 103. just the 2011 ultra with the 96. so i can't speak for the 103. But i love my 96. And i came from riding a 119 cu. air cooled Yamaha Raider (for all you Harley guy"s...The Raider is Yamaha's version of Harley's Rocker.) Now that was one HOT, NOISE making bike..sounded like marbles rolling around under the rocker cover's..and was told the same thing by Yamaha Tech's that we are told by Harley Tech's..""Just big V-Twin Noise"" so the LITTLE noise my Harley make's aint nothing i'm going to worry about..
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: temperance michigan
i have a 2007 converted to a 103 and though it does have some noises and a rattle here or there (noises i dont get on my sportbikes), its what makes it a Harley...air cooled...old school...noisy, kinda raw its what I wanted! Didnt you all test ride your bikes? If a large bore/stroke air cooled pushrod v twin is too raw maybe you should have got a vrod or a gold wing!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
I only have 1,100 miles on my recently purchase 12 Road Glide. But, there are several ways that I like it over my 10 Ultra TC96.
Smoothness. At idle and at road speed it is noticeably smoother. During acceleration it is smoother.
Noise. Again at idle it is quieter and at speed. The stock exhaust is quieter but a nice lower mellow sound. The 10 Utra stock exhaust "barked" when accelerating and was too loud when cruising. On my touring bikes, I want quiet for rolling thousands of miles in two weeks. The starting is much quieter than the TC96"s.
Heat. I get tired of hearing the total BS about heat which started with the TC88, renewed after dying down with the TC 96. Now the whiners have amp'd up with the 103. I have 18K on the Ultra which included Death Valley, the desert South West and Key west both during 105 plus heat waves. Never and issue with heat from the bike by this fragile worn out 71 year old senior citizen. The 103 seems no different to me at all. No heat issues.
The most surprising thing about the 103 was the 50+ mpg in the last three tanks. Totally pleased.
HD has a home run with the 103 being the standard engine now.
In addition to the Ultra I have two other TC96's to compare it to. A 10 Dyna Super Glide and a 07 FXSTC which was the first year of the TC96.
10-11-13: Update - 8,000 miles on it. 52 mpg. Smooth quiet and NO heat. Absolutely a great engine.
Smoothness. At idle and at road speed it is noticeably smoother. During acceleration it is smoother.
Noise. Again at idle it is quieter and at speed. The stock exhaust is quieter but a nice lower mellow sound. The 10 Utra stock exhaust "barked" when accelerating and was too loud when cruising. On my touring bikes, I want quiet for rolling thousands of miles in two weeks. The starting is much quieter than the TC96"s.
Heat. I get tired of hearing the total BS about heat which started with the TC88, renewed after dying down with the TC 96. Now the whiners have amp'd up with the 103. I have 18K on the Ultra which included Death Valley, the desert South West and Key west both during 105 plus heat waves. Never and issue with heat from the bike by this fragile worn out 71 year old senior citizen. The 103 seems no different to me at all. No heat issues.
The most surprising thing about the 103 was the 50+ mpg in the last three tanks. Totally pleased.
HD has a home run with the 103 being the standard engine now.
In addition to the Ultra I have two other TC96's to compare it to. A 10 Dyna Super Glide and a 07 FXSTC which was the first year of the TC96.
10-11-13: Update - 8,000 miles on it. 52 mpg. Smooth quiet and NO heat. Absolutely a great engine.
Last edited by lh4x4; Oct 11, 2013 at 06:38 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 254
Likes: 24
From: Texas
No problems here and much quieter, more powerful stock than my old 97 with stage I. Stage II done on my EC 103 (see sig for details). couldn't be happier so far. Approaching 5K miles. This is the smoothest, coolest, most powerful Harley I have ever had.
I think most of the time, people just get fired up when they have a problem and post about it. Not too many post about "everything is great". A few but not many. Just human nature.
I think most of the time, people just get fired up when they have a problem and post about it. Not too many post about "everything is great". A few but not many. Just human nature.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
From: WI
my Pal stores his 2011 Limited with me in the winters, I ride it some- he rides it alot and we also tour together.
15K zero problems, headers, pipes, air cleaner SERT.
Noise/heat? you are sitting on top of a motor fer cripes sakes
Alot of Guys new to Harleys kinda freak out after riding an inline 4 or water cooled v twin... the modern bikes are the best ever-- I've had 5 older H-D's to compare to- now an 09 FLHTC is the main ride, but I have 4 other bikes/ 2 H-D's
( ---- and alot of guys try mechanical procedures they wouldn't think of doing on the minivan)
mike
15K zero problems, headers, pipes, air cleaner SERT.
Noise/heat? you are sitting on top of a motor fer cripes sakes
Alot of Guys new to Harleys kinda freak out after riding an inline 4 or water cooled v twin... the modern bikes are the best ever-- I've had 5 older H-D's to compare to- now an 09 FLHTC is the main ride, but I have 4 other bikes/ 2 H-D's
( ---- and alot of guys try mechanical procedures they wouldn't think of doing on the minivan)
mike
Right on!
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 493
Likes: 19
From: USA
Street Glide
I just purchase my new 2012 street glide and only have 2oo miles on it. I do have a oil leak around one of the plugs in the oil filter housing which should be and easy fix. So far love my 103 engine plenty of power and the engine runs just as quiet as my 09 heritage I traded in. I've had five different harleys and so far this is the smoothies & best handling bike I've own.
Does anyone else 103 engine while stoped in netural if you race up the engine and let off it will pop through the stock mufflers, thats the only thing I've notice that my other bikes never done. Is this normal?
Does anyone else 103 engine while stoped in netural if you race up the engine and let off it will pop through the stock mufflers, thats the only thing I've notice that my other bikes never done. Is this normal?